Owais Crawford
Pakistan's airports have been closed several times in recent years, most notably in 2019 and 2025 due to rising tensions with neighbouring India. In 2019, Pakistan's airspace was closed for 54 hours, affecting thousands of travellers and causing flights to be rerouted. Pakistan's airports resumed operations partially on March 1, 2019, with four airports opening for international and domestic routes, and the remainder opening on March 4. In 2025, Pakistan and India exchanged bans on each other's airlines entering their airspace, with India's ban lasting from April 30 to May 23. Pakistan's airports have also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with international and local flights suspended since March 2020, though domestic operations resumed that same month. Pakistan announced the resumption of outbound international flights in May 2020, though two remote airports in southern Baluchistan province were exempted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of reopening | 1 March 2019, 1 May 2020 |
| Reason for closure | Rising tensions with India |
| Airports reopened | Karachi International Airport, Peshawar International Airport, Quetta International Airport, Islamabad International Airport, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan |
| Airports remaining closed | Two remote airports in southern Baluchistan province |
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What You'll Learn
- Pakistan's airports were closed due to military tensions with India
- Pakistan's airspace was shut, disrupting flights between Asia and Europe
- Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority announced the reopening of four airports
- Pakistan's airports reopened after a 54-hour hiatus, with a backlog of passengers
- Pakistan's airports closed again in 2025 due to rising tensions with India
Pakistan's airports were closed due to military tensions with India
The conflict between Pakistan and India has a long history, with both countries sharing a contentious relationship over the Kashmir region, which both claim in full but rule in part. This particular incident in 2019 involved an aerial clash over Kashmir, resulting in the shooting down of an Indian MiG-21 jet by Pakistan. Pakistan's closure of its airports was a precautionary measure taken during this period of heightened tensions.
The closure of Pakistani airports had significant ramifications for aviation in the region. With Pakistan's airspace restricted, flights from Singapore to Europe that usually crossed Pakistan and Afghanistan were re-routed westward over Oman. This diversion added over an hour of flying time and increased fuel costs for airlines. Iran's airspace also experienced heavier use as a result of the rerouting.
The tensions between Pakistan and India appeared to ease following the release of the Indian pilot, and Pakistan worked towards fully reopening its commercial airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority announced that all airports would be operational by Tuesday, and the curbs on airspace would be removed. This incident highlighted the fragile relationship between the two countries and the impact of their disputes on regional travel and trade.
In a more recent development in April 2025, Pakistan and India once again engaged in a series of retaliatory actions. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian-owned or operated airlines, suspending trade and visas. India responded by shutting its airspace to Pakistani airlines, citing concerns over the killing of 26 men in an attack on tourists in Kashmir. These reciprocal actions by the two countries further strained their diplomatic relations and disrupted air travel between them.
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Pakistan's airspace was shut, disrupting flights between Asia and Europe
Pakistan's airspace was shut in February 2019 due to rising tensions with neighbouring India. The closure disrupted flights between Asia and Europe, affecting thousands of passengers. The conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations centred around the disputed Kashmir region, with an Indian pilot being shot down during an aerial clash. Pakistan resumed partial operations at four airports on March 1, 2019, with the remainder opening the following week. The country's airspace was scheduled to reopen on March 4, 2019, but it is unclear if this took place as planned.
The closure of Pakistani airspace had a significant impact on aviation in the region. Airports in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta were among the first to resume operations, with restricted entry and exit. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) directed its staff to ensure maximum presence to manage the expected backlog of passengers. Airlines were forced to reroute flights, with services from Singapore to Europe, for example, being rerouted over Oman, resulting in longer flight times and higher fuel costs.
The situation also affected neighbouring countries, with Iran experiencing heavier use of its airspace. The Eurocontrol agency reported that a total of 400 flights were impacted, particularly those in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Poland. The closure of Pakistani airspace caused significant disruptions to travel and increased costs for airlines and passengers alike.
In 2020, Pakistan again closed its airspace to commercial flights to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the country announced in May of that year that it would resume outbound international flights, with domestic operations already having resumed. Despite the health crisis, Pakistan rolled back lockdown measures to prevent an economic meltdown, and international flights were allowed to resume, albeit with standard precautions in place for passengers.
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Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority announced the reopening of four airports
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced the reopening of four airports, bringing relief to thousands of travellers affected by the closure of the country's airspace. The decision to reopen the airports came as tensions with neighbouring India showed signs of easing.
The airports in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta resumed partial operations on Friday, with international and domestic flights now able to operate to and from these destinations. The remaining airports, including Lahore, Sialkot, and Multan, were scheduled to reopen on March 4, with the country's airspace remaining closed until then, except for the four international airports mentioned above.
The reopening of the airports followed a week of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, which saw the closure of airspace and the suspension of flights, impacting travellers and airlines alike. The conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations centred around the disputed Kashmir region, with an aerial clash resulting in the shooting down of an Indian jet and the capture of a pilot, who was later released.
As the situation de-escalated, Pakistan handed back the captured Indian pilot, and the Civil Aviation Authority worked to resume flight operations. The partial reopening of the four airports was a welcome development, but authorities anticipated a backlog of passengers, urging staff and officers to be present to manage operations smoothly.
The resumption of flights is expected to alleviate the disruption caused by the closure of Pakistani airspace. The conflict had impacted flights between Asia and Europe, with airlines forced to reroute through China and Oman, resulting in longer flight times and increased fuel costs.
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Pakistan's airports reopened after a 54-hour hiatus, with a backlog of passengers
Pakistan's airports resumed operations after a 54-hour hiatus, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) directing its staff to ensure maximum presence to manage the expected backlog of passengers. The closure of Pakistani airspace left thousands of travellers stranded and forced carriers to reroute flights.
On March 1, 2019, four Pakistani airports, including Karachi International Airport, Peshawar International Airport, Quetta International Airport, and Islamabad International Airport, partially resumed operations for both international and domestic routes. However, other airports, such as Lahore, Sialkot, and Multan, resumed flight operations a day later on March 4.
The reopening of Pakistani airspace came as tensions between Pakistan and India eased. Pakistan had initially shut its airspace due to military tensions with its nuclear-armed neighbour, leading to the cancellation of numerous flights and disruptions for travellers.
The partial resumption of flights was a welcome development, and airlines worked to accommodate affected passengers. The situation also highlighted the interconnected nature of global air travel, with flights between Asia and Europe disrupted and airlines incurring additional costs due to rerouting.
In 2020, Pakistan again closed its airspace to commercial flights to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, outbound international flights were later resumed, with standard precautions in place for both local and international flights.
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Pakistan's airports closed again in 2025 due to rising tensions with India
Pakistan's airports were closed again in April 2025 amid escalating tensions with neighbouring India. The closure came in the wake of a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists and injured over 20 people. The Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries, with India accusing Pakistan of sponsoring the attack and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice. In response, India expelled Pakistani diplomats and withdrew its own, suspended visas, closed borders, and withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan denied the allegations and retaliated with trade restrictions, closure of airspace and border crossings, and suspension of the Simla Agreement.
As tensions escalated, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that the country had "'credible intelligence'" indicating that India intended to carry out military action within 24-36 hours. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the US to intervene and asked Washington to impress upon India to "dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly."
The closure of Pakistani airports disrupted flights between Asia and Europe, stranding thousands of passengers. Airlines were forced to reroute flights, adding to flying time and fuel costs. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of partial operations at four airports: Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta. The remainder was expected to open the following week, with a full reopening of commercial airspace planned for Monday at 1:00 pm (0800 GMT).
The 2025 tensions between India and Pakistan marked yet another chapter in the ongoing conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations over the disputed region of Kashmir.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports in Pakistan closed on February 28, 2019, due to rising tensions with India.
Four airports in Pakistan reopened on March 1, 2019, with more airports resuming operations on March 4, 2019.
Airports in Pakistan closed on April 30, 2025, due to escalating tensions with India.
It is unclear when airports in Pakistan will reopen in 2025.
Airports in Pakistan closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airports in Pakistan reopened in May 2020, with some restrictions still in place.
